Hyperhidrosis (Excessive Sweating) Torrance

What is Hyperhidrosis?

Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating is a disorder characterized by overactive sweat glands that produce more sweat than is necessary.

Left untreated, hyperhidrosis can have physical as well as psychological implications. The condition can be permanently remedied by surgically removing the sweat glands.

There are two types of hyperhidrosis: primary focal and secondary generalized.

Primary focal hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating not caused by another medical condition and not a side effect of medications and is a medical condition by itself. This type of sweating occurs on very specific areas of the body (underarms, hands, feet, face) and is usually relatively “symmetric.”

The symptoms and the unpleasantness can leave sufferers with anxiety and longer-term emotional pain.

How we treat this condition

Beyond Beautiful offers patients a surgical procedure that treats excess sweating in the underarm area by surgically removing the sweat glands from the undersurface of the dermis.

Unlike other treatments, sweat gland removal is both permanent and safe in that it leaves the surface of the skin unharmed. More than 80 percent of the patients see a permanent often near complete reduction of perspiration in the area.

The procedure will take no more than 60 minutes. It is carried out under local anesthesia or IV sedation. When done under local anesthesia, patients can drive themselves home. During the three- to five-day recovery period, a compressor dressing will be applied to avoid collection of fluid where the sweat glands used to be. As with any surgery, there may be swelling and bruising and postoperative care instructions have to be followed to avoid any potential complications such as infection.

How it compares to other treatments

Sympathectomy: The treatment of removing the sympathetic discharge by surgery is a considerably invasive surgical procedure and may have significant risks and/or side effects. With the existing risk, there is a chance of it not working for many patients due to recanalization of the sympathetic nerve discharge through other channels.

Liposuction: Dr. Khattab has used liposuction in the past and based on experience does not recommend it due to variable results.

Mira-Dry: This new FDA-approved machine-based treatment offered by many treating providers promises to destroy the sweat glands from the undersurface of the skin by generating heat through the skin. As such, for Mira-Dry to work, it has to generate so much heat that the overlying skin may be subject to thermal injury and/or scarring. It is rarely tolerated by patients without significant injection of local anesthesia and/or general anesthesia.

Botox: Botox injection has helped a lot of patients. Botox in the axilla is widely acceptable and known to work very well in almost all patients. Its main disadvantage is its temporary nature as it lasts three months, in rare cases, up to six months. With regards to hand injection, some form of additional anesthetic is always necessary, be it general or regional anesthesia to numb up the hands before multiple injections to the hand.

Topical conservative measures: These come in the form of anti-perspirants or prescription medication. The latter is in the form of intake of a medication called Rubinol which comes with some side effects, including blurred vision and sense of flashing and heat to the skin.

Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Khattab

If you’re ready to learn more about hyperhydrosis, contact us today for your complimentary consultation. Beyond Beautiful is located at 23365 Hawthorne Blvd, Suite 102, in Torrance, CA. Since 1988, we have been providing excellent care to patients from nearby Torrance, Long Beach, Redondo Beach, and beyond.